Thomas Wayne Birtrong
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thomas Wayne Birtrong

Austin Police Department — Austin, TX
Accident
End of Watch August 23, 1974
Age 29
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 114 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Birtrong was killed when his cruiser was struck by another vehicle at east 15th and Trinity Streets while he was responding to assist another officer. Officer Birtrong served with the Austin Police Department for two and previously served with the Del Rio Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his father.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Birtrong gave the Austin Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Birtrong.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Austin, Hays County, TX
Platform Identity apd.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1974
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Thomas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1974, 98 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Thomas was 29. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Thomas had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Austin Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer Thomas Wayne Birtrong

Austin Police Department · End of Watch August 23, 1974

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-E

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